Chapter 2 — The House of Broken Silence
Chapter 2 — The House of Broken Silence
The Whitcomb mansion looked exactly as it always had.
Perfect hedges.
Imported marble.
Expensive paintings.
A palace built on appearances.
Preston welcomed Enzo into his office with practiced confidence.
"My son."
Enzo slammed Harper's medical file onto the desk.
The smile vanished.
"You sold her."
Preston poured whiskey.
"I saved my company."
"You beat your own daughter."
"I disciplined her."
The room became deadly quiet.
Enzo's jaw tightened.
"You call that discipline?"
Preston shrugged.
"She was born weak."
"She embarrassed me."
"Every scar taught her obedience."
Enzo had imagined killing this man a thousand different ways.
None felt sufficient anymore.
"You know what surprises me?" Preston continued.
"You think she's innocent."
He laughed.
"She'll manipulate you."
"They always do."
Enzo walked around the desk.
Very slowly.
"I buried my brother because of you."
Preston smiled.
"And now you own everything."
"So perhaps we're even."
The punch came without warning.
Preston crashed backward over his leather chair.
Blood splattered across the Persian rug.
Before he could stand, Enzo grabbed him by the collar.
"I married Harper to destroy you."
His voice was terrifyingly calm.
"But after seeing what you've done..."
He leaned closer.
"I've decided destruction isn't enough."
He released him.
Marco stepped forward with several thick folders.
"What are these?"
"Evidence."
Every offshore account.
Every bribed judge.
Every illegal payment.
Every witness.
Every recording.
Preston's face drained of color.
"You can't."
"I already have."
Police sirens echoed outside the mansion.
Federal agents poured through the front entrance.
Someone had leaked everything.
Someone named Enzo DeLuca.
As agents placed handcuffs around Preston's wrists, he searched desperately for Harper.
She wasn't there.
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For the first time in his life...
His daughter had stopped watching him win.
